"The centre looks amazing and provides fantastic facilities to help people of all ages and abilities keep healthy and active.

"We’ve had a lot of positive feedback already from residents and sports clubs who are keen to be able to get in and use it, and I hope they will be as pleased with their new leisure centre as we are."

'Very proud'

Besides the new centre, improvements have also been made to neighbouring Preston Park, which include expanding the children's playground and installing a new multi-use games area (MUGA).

Sport England also contributed £500,000 National Lottery funding to ensure the new centre would feature regional standard basketball and trampolining facilities.

It will be run by GLL, the borough council's leisure management partner. Manager David Hughes said the non-profit charitable social enterprise was dedicated to getting more people active be ensuring leisure services remained "accessible and affordable".

"We are very proud to have the opportunity to manage such an outstanding new leisure centre and are looking forward to welcoming local residents through the doors and showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities," he added.

There is an light and airy exercise and dance studio at the centre

The development is a partnership between Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Surrey County Council as part of the multi-million pound Preston regeneration, which will see the adjoining new Phoenix Youth Centre open later this month replacing another ageing premises.

Councillor Natalie Bramhall, executive member for property and regeneration, said: "The council's investment in the development of the new Tadworth Leisure and Community Centre and Preston Park will greatly improve sport and leisure opportunities for local people.

"Our investment, with contributions from Surrey County Council and Sport England, has resulted in a centre that will contribute to the health and wellbeing of our residents and to the local economy.

"Income from the sale of the Banstead Leisure Centre site has helped to fund the new centre and the site will provide for much needed new homes."

Community day

To celebrate the centre's completion and the improvements to Preston Park, a the council will host a community day on October 17.

Cllr Spiers will officially open the centre with Conrad Williams at 1pm. Residents can also find out what’s on offer in their community and about up-coming community improvements - including information about forthcoming new homes.

Memberships of Banstead Leisure Centre will be automatically transferred to the new centre.

The sale of the site in Merland Rise, Epsom, to Croudace Homes will be completed later this month [October], with demolition of the old centre and new house building set to start soon after.

To find out more about the facilities and activities on offer at Tadworth Leisure and Community Centre, visit www.better.org.uk/tadworth.